Firearm ejector



March 11, 1969 E. L.. MORROW 3,43l,669

FIREARM EJECTOR' Filed Feb. 25, 1966 INVENTORI EDWARD 1.. MORROW BY r A T TORNE Y United States Patent 3,431,669 FIREARM EJECTOR Edward L. Morrow, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 530,145

US. Cl. 4225 Claims Int. Cl. F41c /00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses an eject-or for a firearm comprising an elongated leaf spring ejector which is mounted for limited axial movement in the receiver of the firearm opposite the ejection port. The ejector is spring biased toward the cartridge receiving chamber.

This invention relates to an improved ejector for breech loading firearms and more particularly to an ejector suitable for use in a shotgun wherein the breech bolt is slideable along an axis generally parallel to the axis of the barrel.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an ejector which can eject shot shells of different lengths.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide an ejector which can the used in a shotgun normally adapted for firing 2%" shells, but which can eject a 3" shot shell without enlarging the ejection port.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ejector for a firearm which is relatively faster and more positive in its ejection of a shot shell regardless of the length of the shot shell.

These and other objects of the invention may be accomplished by mounting an elongated flexible leaf spring ejector within the receiver opposite the ejection port in a manner such that the ejector is capable of limited axial movement and is spring biased toward the breech.

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment of the tool and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial, horizontal, sectional view of a firearm equipped with an ejector constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the ejection of a 2%" shot shell;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the position of the ejector during the ejection of a 3" shot shell; and

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view, partly in section, of the firearm of FIGURE 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the ejector 2 is positioned within a shotgun 4 which includes a barrel member 6 connected in the forward end of a receiver 8. The receiver 8 includes an open ejection port 10 and a rear wall portion 12.

A conventional bolt assembly 14 is mounted within the receiver 8 for axial movement therein, and includes a forward portion 16 having lugs 18 thereon for interlocking engagement with mating lugs 20 on the breech end of the barrel member 6 when the bolt assembly 14 is moved into the breech closed position. The forward portion 16 of the bolt assembly 14 also includes a conventional spring loaded extractor 22 which engages the rim of a shot shell positioned within the chamber and withdraws it as the bolt assembly 14 is moved to the breech open position.

The ejector 2 of the present invention comprises a relatively light leaf spring which is bowed throughout its length. When mounted within the shotgun 4, it ex- 3,431,669 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 tends from a bore 24 in the barrel 6 to a bore 28 in the rear wall portion 12 of the receiver 8. The ejector 2 includes at its rearward extremity a portion 30 which is spaced from the wall of the chamber and extends into the bore 28. An elongated slot 32 near the rearward end of the ejector 30 receives a projection 34 which extends from the wall of the receiver 8 and acts as a stop member for limiting the forward motion of the ejector 2 when the barrel is removed.

Immediately forward of portion 30 is a portion 36 which is substantially straight and held flush with the interior wall of the receiver 8 when the bolt assembly 14 is in contact with portion 38 of the ejector '2. This portion 38 projects into the receiver 8 toward the ejection port 10 and includes an elongated slot 40 to increase its flexibility. Portion 38 is connected to the portion 36 by a curved portion 42 which includes an abutment '44 extending toward the ejection port 10 and positioned diametrically opposite the extractor 22 on the bolt assembly 14. The forward most extremity 46 of the ejector 2 is received within the bore 24 in the receiver 8. The ejector 2 is biased toward the breech of a firearm by spring member 48 which extends between the bottom 50 of the bore 28 and an abutment surface 52 on the ejector 2. The bolt assembly 14 is provided with a suitable groove 54 in its outer surface to provide clearance for the ejector 2.

The operation of the ejector 2 for a 2%" shot shell is depicted in FIGURE 1. As the bolt assembly 14 is moved from its breech closed position to its breech open position, the extractor 22 pulls the shot shell 56- from the chamber and carries it rearwardly therewith until the head 58 of the shell hits the abutment member 44 on the ejector 2. The shot shell 56, bolt assembly 14, and ejector 2 all move rearwardly until the forward most edge 60 of the shot shell 56 clears the forward edge 62 of the ejection port 10. Further movement of the bolt assembly 14 causes shot shell 56 to pivot about the extractor 22 and this pivoting, combined with the action of portion 38 of ejector 2 resiliently engaging the outer circumference of the rim of the shot shell and springing outwardly as the forward portion 16 of the bolt assembly 14 moves rearwardly, flips the shot shell to the side and out of the ejection port 10 as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the action of the ejector 2 is somewhat similar during the ejection of a 3" shell. However, since the 3" shot shell 64 will not have its forward most edge 66 free to move out the ejection port 10 at the same point of rearward travel of the bolt assembly 14, the ejector 2 will continue to move rearwardly with the bolt assembly 14 until such time as the forward 'most edge 66 of shot shell 64 clears the forward edge 62 of the ejection port 10. At this time, the combined action of the abutment member 44 pivoting the shell about the extractor 22 and the movement of the portion 38 of the ejector 2 toward the ejection port 10, will serve to move the forward portion of shell 64 out to the side and flip the shot shell 64 outwardly. Due to the fact that the shell is pivoted as it is ejected, it is not necessary to enlarge the ejection port 10 to accommodate the 3" shell.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it has been found sufficient to permit .300 inch travel of the ejector 2. It has been found that with this amount, either a 2% or 3" shot shell can be readily ejected in an action designed for the shorter shell.

An additional advantage of this invention, present whether ejecting a 2%" or 3" shot shell, is the fact that once the forward portion of the shot shell clears the forward edge of the ejection port, the ejector no longer moves rearwardly with the bolt assembly, but rather tends to move forward under the action of its spring member 48, resulting in greater pivoting of the shot shell about the extractor 22 and faster ejection.

What is claimed is:

1. In a firearm including a receiver having an ejection port, a barrel having a chamber for receiving a shell, a bolt assembly reciprocally mounted in said receiver, and extractor means for extracting a shell from the chamber; the improvement comprising a resilient leaf spring ejector mounted for limited axial movement within said receiver opposite said ejection port, means resiliently biasing said leaf spring toward said chamber, and abutment means on said ejector for engagement with the rim of a shell as the bolt assembly and shell are moved rearwardly within said receiver whereby upon relative movement of said ejector and said bolt assembly, said shell is pivoted about said extractor and ejected from said receiver through said ejection port.

2. The firearm as set forth in claim 1 further including a first bore in the internal rearward wall of said receiver and a second bore in said barrel adjacent said chamber, said extractor having a rearward portion extending into said first bore and a forward portion extending into said second bore, said means for resiliently biasing said ejector being positioned within said first bore.

3. The firearm as set forth in claim 2 further comprising stop means for limiting the forward movement of said ejector when said barrel is removed from said receiver.

4. The firearm as set fonth in claim 3 wherein said stop means comprises a slot in said ejector and a projection extending from the wall of said receiver through said slot.

5. The firearm as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for resiliently biasing said ejector includes a coil spring mounted in said first bore and said ejector includes an abutment surface for engaging the forward end of said spring.

6. The firearm as set forth in claim 5 wherein said ejector is capable of rearward axial movement of at least .300 inch from its forward position.

7. The firearm as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ejector includes an intermediate portion in substantially diametric opposition across said bolt assembly from the ejection port, said intermediate portion projecting into the receiver toward said ejection port in a position to resiliently engage the outer circumference of a rim of a shell.

8. The firearm is set forth in claim 7 wherein said intermediate portion of said ejector has an elongated, longitudinally extending slot therein.

9. The firearm as set forth in claim 7 wherein said abutment means projects from the rearward end of said intermediate portion toward said ejection port.

10. The firearm as set forth in claim 7 wherein said extractor means is mounted on said bolt assembly and said ejector is located in substantially diametric opposition across said bolt assembly from said extractor means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,929 1/ 1901 Corbett 4225 1,578,777 3/ 1926 S-webilius 4225 1,796,757 3/1931 Little 4225 1,834,410 12/1931 Loomis 4225 X 2,104,581 1/ 1938 Browning 42-25 2,645,873 7/ 1953 Crittendon et al 4225 2,780,881 2/ 1957 Crittendon et a1 4225 VERLIN R. PENDEGRASS, Primary Examiner. 

